Cytogenetic Studies on Genoprotective Effect of Rosa damascena Mill. Hydrosol in Plant and Lymphocyte Test Systems

Abstract

Bulgarian Rosa damascena Mill. is has been known since ancient times for its high-quality oil, hydrosol, and other aromatic products. Rose hydrosol has various biological activities, but no research on its anticytotoxic/antigenotoxic effects exists. This study aimed to assess its defense potential against the genotoxin N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine and to test its cytotoxic/genotoxic activity in plant and human lymphocyte test systems. Endpoints for cytotoxicity (mitotic index and nuclear division index) and genotoxicity (chromosome aberration and micronuclei) were used. Hydrosol was applied as a single treatment in concentrations ranging from 3% to 20% (4 h) to assess its cytotoxic and genotoxic effects. Its protective potential against MNNG was tested by applying an experimental scheme involving (i) conditioning treatment with non-toxic or slightly toxic concentrations of hydrosol, followed by genotoxin challenge (50 μg/mL) with a 4 h intertreatment time and (ii) treatment with hydrosol and mutagen with no time between the treatments. Hydrosol induces low cytotoxicity and clastogenicity, demonstrating cytoprotective/genoprotective effects against the mutagen in both applied test systems. The hydrosol defense potential was expressed by a more than twofold reduction in both chromosomal aberrations and micronuclei and by enhancing the mitotic activity compared with that of the mutagen, regardless of the experimental conditions. The results are promising for further hydrosol applications in pharmaceutical and medical practice.

Genotoxic and Anti-Genotoxic Potential of Hydrosols from Water–Steam Distillation of Oil-Bearing Roses Rosa centifolia L. and Rosa gallica L. from Bulgaria

“…The results agree with our previous study, where the application of R. damascena hydrosol in non-toxic concentrations (6% in lymphocyte cultures and 20% in barley) also demonstrated cyto-and genoprotective effects against the alkylating mutagen MNNG [54]. Similar DNA-protective potential was also reported for the R. alba essential oil [2].…”

“…Previous studies demonstrated that treatment with R. alba L. and R. damascena Mill. hydrosols (3-20%) also increased the frequency of chromosome injuries and micronuclei to a low extent in the used test systems [53,54]. The observed effect is probably due to the chemical compounds in the hydrosols that can interact with both H. vulgare and human lymphocyte DNA.…”